Bridge pickup for Explorer/Flying V/Firebird Studio (metal/thrash application)

[Lorenzar]

Hi !

I already have an axe dedicated for thrash/metal stuffs (like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Pantera kind of stuffs basically) and it's a Jackson JJ (LP double cut shape, alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard) loaded with SH2/SH6 couple.


The guitar through the distorsion pickup is alright. Balanced, tight sounding, aggressive, maybe a bit thin, but ok.

I know I'm gonna purshace sooner or later another guitar for thrash/metal stuffs and I know it's gonna be either a Gibson Flying V or an Explorer (or maybe even a Firebird Studio).


I already know I would try a Full Shred in the neck slot for any of those (I have to try something else than '59, Jazz and A2P).

But what about the bridge ?

In my mind, V's and Explorer must be similar, V might be a bit thinner sounding as it's lighter (maybe lighter than a SG actually) and got less wood.


Therefore I'm thinking Distorsion and EMG 81 would suit both, and maybe the Explorer could use a Dimebucker as well and the Flying V an Invader to thicken up things.

I'm seeing Dimebucker in V or Invader in an Explorer as being bad choices, but that's all preconceived ideas.


So let's play a little game, if you'd want one of those guitars for playing thrash/metal stuffs, what bridge pickup would you choose ? (maybe besides Distorsion as I already have it).

So far here's my clueless thoughts :

-Explorer : Dimebucker
-Flying V : Invader
-Firebird Studio : ??

 

[Drano Max]

Re: Bridge pickup for Explorer/Flying V/Firebird Studio (metal/thrash application)

If you get a Gibson Explorer, don't count that 500T out. Great pup for thrash.

I swapped to a Custom/Jazz set in mine, been using that setup for thrash, for years now. The 500T is in my LP now.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Bridge pickup for Explorer/Flying V/Firebird Studio (metal/thrash application)

Alternative 8
Black Winter

The Custom isn't too bad.

Sent from my EVA-L19 using Tapatalk

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: Bridge pickup for Explorer/Flying V/Firebird Studio (metal/thrash application)

Alternative 8
Black Winter

The Custom isn't too bad.

Sent from my EVA-L19 using Tapatalk

I love the Custom I have into an SG faded I use for D/C# tuning !

I should add I'd keep the Jackson guitar.
So the V/Explorer/Firebird Studio would be here to cover the same ground with a different approach.

So far, I feel like a Mahogany guitar with an invader would be the most different thing than an Alder guitar with Ditorsion.

It would be thickier for sure I guess. Maybe not tight enough though.

I'd consider the 500T of course, but isn'it a "lesser" Distorsion?

I must add I play on 6505 MH for thrash metal by the way.

 

[Lorenzar]

Re: Bridge pickup for Explorer/Flying V/Firebird Studio (metal/thrash application)

One thing that's occuring to me since I have the Peavey 6505 MH : My SH6 loaded Jackson doesn't sound so good on it.

On the green channel, it sounds way to dark and bassy (there's a big contrast when I plug my Les Paul with A2P or the SG). By the way my Jackson is a JJ, with a LP double cut shape, not thin sounding, like an LP made of Alder basically.

And on the red channel, the lead one, it's a bit overkill, it's ok when I turn the gain way down, like between 2 and 3, but I don't know, something sounds wrong on it, whereas on my Marshall, which was not so hi gain, I could hear the benefit of the SH6 along with a clean boost for metal applications.


Got the feeling this amp doesn't like much high output pickup (or is actually already too much high gain that a moderate pickup is better).

If I keep this amp, maybe for a Flying V or an Explorer, the Custom would be more appropriate.

 

[EDX]

Re: Bridge pickup for Explorer/Flying V/Firebird Studio (metal/thrash application)

a dimebucker is a killer pickup for thrash metal, and no, a flying v with a dimebucker and an explorer with an invader aren't disastrous choices, it depends on the guitar itself and the rig

my v is a 25.5" bolt-on wahsburn with a maple neck and a thin maple cap, so in theory it should be brighter than an actual gibson flying v, do any of these tones sound bad for thrash?

 

[EDX]

Re: Bridge pickup for Explorer/Flying V/Firebird Studio (metal/thrash application)

the forum doesn't allow 2 html5 videos in a single post, so double post........